Impact of greening on performance in the hospitality industry: Moderating effect of flexibility and inter-organizational cooperation

Abstract

Greening constitutes a particular challenge for the hospitality industry. It can be manifested in hotels through waste management, the reduction of purchasing materials that cannot be recycled, the reduction of energy and water consumption, investments in alternative energy equipment (solar or wind energy), and the adoption of an environment-friendly approach in a firm's strategy, among others. This study aims to examine the impact of greening on hotel performance and identify the factors that can strengthen this relationship. Using PLS-SEM and fsQCA, we examine a sample of 101 one- or two-star hotels operating in Poland. Our results show that greening has a significantly positive impact on hotel performance. Moreover, this impact is moderated by flexibility and inter-organizational cooperation; proactiveness and innovativeness do not moderate the examined relationship. This study contributes to the theories of sustainable development and hospitality management. Based on our results, we propose recommendations for managers and entrepreneurs regarding the sustainable development and green transformation of hotels.